Why Do You Need A Peer Group To Better Your Spa?

I’m so glad you asked why it’s important to have a peer group, especially in the spa industry. Being in management in the spa industry can be a very lonely spot, indeed. You’re often-times the accountant, the HR rep, the custodian, the sales person, the trainer and so much more. You have to keep things professional and can’t discuss work issues with subordinates, so you feel lost and very often, overwhelmed. I know a thing or two about this because I’ve been in your shoes – a few times!

Having worn multiple hats (frequently simultaneously), I know how frustrating it can be to hold it all down. Even if you have a support staff, big decisions often have to be made and the weight falls one place – you. Having a group of people that you can lean on to vent to or to ask industry questions is so important. As a young spa director, I sometimes struggled to find those people. As I grew into my role as an independent spa consultant, I began to naturally connect people who needed each other. Before I knew it, a little venture called SpaHive emerged.

After years of connecting people two-at-a-time, I wondered what it would be like to connect people in a larger scale. After some planning and market research (that I took care of myself), I began to plan my first SpaHive event. Months later, it all came together. It was all happening and the connections I made on a small scale were starting to happen on a larger scale right in front of my eyes!

For me, the vision of SpaHive was to bring together vendors and spa managers and directors in person. It was also to provide a platform for everyone to connect after the live events. We have people who have questions about marketing, spa retail, employee relations, hiring and more. Cumulatively, we have over 1000 years of spa experience just in our SpaHive group!

I’d like to give you a sampling of what SpaHive Mastermind attendees leave with. On top of a kick butt swag bag, full of vendor product, you’ll leave with knowledge galore. We’ve had speakers come in and talk about public relations, we’ve had full panels of social media marketing experts, we’ve had town-hall style staffing conversations and more! After so many topics, we have to put that knowledge into practice. At every SpaHive event, we take time twice in the day to break into smaller mastermind groups. Each person at a table will have approximately 5-10 minutes to talk about a particular issue in their spa or a solution they need. The table then, cumulatively, comes up with multiple solutions for the spa manager or director to implement once they return to work. Top that with more than enough time to actually have in depth conversations with vendors.

Not only do people leave with knowledge and product. They leave with connection and a sense of belonging. Many of the people I have met at these events have turned into life-long friends and even clients of mine. One person left our event in Washington, DC and said she was leaving filled with hope and a lot of new ideas to try even though when she arrived she felt like things at her spa were nearly hopeless. There is plenty more of where that comes from, click here to watch SpaHive testimonials. This is what peer groups do for you! Check out our last SpaHive event of 2019, hosted at The Spa at Norwich Inn on September 22nd-23rd. You won’t want to miss SpaHive Norwich!

SpaHive is just one peer group. There are peer groups in every industry though. If you’re looking for a ton of social media marketing content, there are literally hundreds of groups out there. Many of the retail vendors also have Facebook groups or pages that are dedicated to sales and education on their particular lines. Take advantage of them – that’s literally what they’re paid for (other than making the sale.) I want to encourage you to find your group of people. Seek them out actively and participate in those groups frequently. As is the case in almost every situation, it feels just as good – if not better – to give rather than receive. You’ll be a better spa director and manager for it.

To join our FREE SpaHive facebook Community, just click here! I hope to see you in our group soon.